Bath fixture



C. F. RIDDELL Sept. 7, 1937.

BATH FIXTURE 2 Sheds-Sheet 1 Original Filed NOV. 29, 1935 C.F.HDDELL Sept. 7, 1937.

BATH FIXTURE Original Filed Nov. 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATH FIXTURE Charles F. Itiddell, New York, Y.

Application November 29, 1935, Serial No. 52,261 Renewed January 19, 1937 13 Claims.

'My invention relates to bathtub fixtures, and more particularly to bathtub fixtures adapted to be used with shower curtains, where the tub is arranged to have a shower. Accidents often happen in bathtubs because of the smooth, slippery surface of the tub. Getting into and out of tubs is dangerous, and has often resulted in injury.

Moreover, the curtain of a tub is often insecurely held in position at its edge, which occupies a median position in the tub, and water will often run off the curtain onto the floor.

It is an object of my invention to provide a fixture which will minimize the danger incident to getting into and out of bathtubs which are equipped with showers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device for holding the shower curtain so as to minimize the danger of water being spilled on the fioor of a bathroom.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device which is simple to construct, easy to repair and replace, and which can be manufactured at small cost. a 1

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly 35 understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my device in position one bathtub equipped with a shower curtain;

Fig. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure '1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; 50 Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a iew taken along the line 5--5' of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, looking-in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown an up- 5 right I provided with a stirrup member 2 which fits over an edge 3 of a bathtub 4. At its upper end the upright l is provided'with a slidable member 5 which is adapted to slide over a curtain rod 5. 0n the curtain rod 6 is a shower curtain 1 l which is attached to the curtain rod 6 by means of sliding metal loops 8 of the usual construction. The end of the curtain is provided with an eye 9 and an eye H1 at its bottom. A link H is attached through eye 9 and fits over the 15 upper part of the upright I. Likewise, a link 12 passes through the eye ill and fits over the lower part of the upright I.

The upright l is so constructed as to permit adjustment of its length to accommodate the vary- 20 ing distances between curtain rods and tub edges of different types .of installations. The upright l is adapted to fit within an annular extension it on the stirrup member 2. At the top of the annular extension i3 is a split section l4 pro- 25 vided with splits i5 and a frusto conical end i6. The split section i B is provided with screw threads, indicated at H, which are adapted to engage screw threads i8 formed on a knurled annular tightening element H) which has a frusto. conical interior surface 20 that is adapted to fit over the frusto conical surface iii of the elei ment Hi.

By tightening up the knurled annular tightening member H] by screwing it on the extension i4, the split portion of the element i4 is clamped firmly against the upright I and prevents movement of the rod within the extension i3 of the stirrup 2. This arrangement permits the upright I to be adjusted t varying distances between curtain rod 6 and tub edge 3.

The stirrup 2 is provided on its upper interior with rubber nipples 2| which permit the stirrup 2 to slide over the edge of the tub without danger of marring the edge. On one side of the stirrup I have provided friction pads 22' which may be of rubber or leather, or some other suitable material. On the other side of the stirrup I have provided a thickened portion 23 through which is threaded at 24 a screw threaded clamp which is provided .with an operating handle 25. The stirrup 2 is adapted to be held in place by moving the operating handle 25 to screw the screw clamp 24 firmly against the edge of the tub 3, whereby the device is readily and firmly held in place.

In order to facilitate the movement oi! the slidable element 0 on the curtain red 6, I have constructed the element 0 in the form of a stirrup provided with tour bolts 20 which pass above and below the curtain rod. Mounted on each bolt within the stirrup I is a roller 21. The curtain rod 0 rides on the rollers 21 and this construction forms an anti-friction engagement with the curtain rod 0. The stirrup 0 is screw threaded, as indicated at 20, to the upright i.

It is to be noted that the construction or the stirrup 0 is such as to cause the rollers 21 to bear on the curtain rod 0 at points somewhat remote from each other, which tends to prevent binding or the device when it is pulled by means of the upright i from one position to another by the hand of the user. It the rollers "2d are mounted too close together, there will be a t ndency for binding to occur.

In use the upright l is moved to the desired position by the hand of the user who grasps the upright l and loosens the screw clamp by turning the handle 20. When the curtain is pulled to the desired position, the handle 25 is moved to tighten the screw clamp and the user can use the shower with confidence that water will not spill from the curtain onto the fioor.

Further, and quite important, is the use of the upright Lin getting into and out of the slippery bathtub. The upright i can be grasped by-the hand of the user to steady himself in getting into and out of the tub, and even while taking a shower.

In Figures 6, '7 and 8 I have shown another form of my device in which the upright I is attached to a T-fitting I00 which is adapted to slide over the curtain rod 8. The T-fitting I00 is not provided with anti-friction members, but with reasonable care, binding between the T- fitting I00 and the rod 0 will not be excessive. The end of the upright l is provided with a stirrup l0l which is lined with an anti-friction material I02 such as rubber or leather. The stirrup IN is so made as to have a spring pressure against the edge 3 01' the tub 4. This spring pressure tends to hold the upright l in any desired adjusted position. However, because the spring pressure is not excessive, the operator can move the upright to any desired position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing irom the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, and a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the tub edge and the curtain rod.

2. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod; a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the tub edge and the curtain rod, and means to attach the lower end of the upright to the tub edge.

3. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a. curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the tub edge and the curtain rod, and means to regulate the length of the upright.

4. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the tub edge and the curtain rod, means-to attach the lower edge of the upright to the tub edge, and means to regulate the length of the upright.

5. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidably mounted on the curtain rod, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, and means on tle stirrup to hold it'irom slipping on the tub e 88.

6. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidably mounted on the curtain rod, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, and a screw clamp fitting through one side of the stirrup to hold it in placeon the edge of the tub.

7. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidably mounted on the curtain rod, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, and anti-trictlon means in contact with the curtain rod and carried by the upright to facilitate the movement of the upright on the rod.

8. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, acurtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidably mounted on the curtain rod, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, anti-friction means in contact with the curtain rod and carried by the upright to facilitate the movement of the upright on the rod, and means to regulate the length of the upright.

9. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the curtain rod, means to regulate the length 01' the upright, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, and means on the stirrup to hold it from slipping on the tub edge.

10. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the curtain rod, means to regulate the length 01 the upright, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, means on the stirrup to hold it from slipping on the tub edge, and a screw clamp fitting through one side of the stirrup to hold it in place on the edge of the tub.

11. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the curtain rod, means to regulate the length 01' the upright, a stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright, means on the stirrup to hold it from slipping on the tub edge, a screw clamp fitting through one side of the stirrup to hold it in place on the edge of the tub, and an antifriction in contact with the curtain rod and carried bythe upright to facilitate the movement of the upright on the rod.

12. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slldable on the curtain rod, a. spring stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright whereby the spring of the stirrup tends to prevent sliding of the stirrup 10 on the tub edge.

13. A bath fixture comprising a tub having an edge, a shower bath curtain rod, a. curtain slidably mounted on the rod, a movable upright attached to the curtain and slidable on the curtain rod, 9. spring stirrup adapted to fit over the tub edge attached to the upright whereby the spring of the stirrup tends to prevent sliding of the stirrup on the tub edge, and friction padding on the inside of the stirrup to prevent marring of the tub edge and to furnish an anti-slip rip. 

